Ayvalık walking tour & city guide

The old town

Behind the waterfront, the old town is a maze of cobbled lanes lined with two-story stone houses with colorful doors and shutters, many lovingly restored. Former Orthodox churches, such as the Taksiyarhis church with its painted interior, stand among them, and the tall chimneys of old olive oil factories rise above the roofs.

On Thursdays, the town hosts one of the region's best markets, where villagers bring olives, olive oil, cheeses, herbs and produce. The waterfront promenade is lined with fishing boats and tea gardens.

Cunda Island and the coast

Cunda, also called Alibey Island, has a pretty harbor of fish restaurants and an old quarter of stone houses climbing the hill to a restored church and a windmill viewpoint. Boats and buses connect it with the town.

South of Ayvalık, the hilltop of Şeytan Sofrası, the Devil's Table, is famous for its sunset views over the islands, and Sarımsaklı has a long sandy beach. The surrounding hills are covered in olive trees, some of them centuries old.

A classic walk: old town to the waterfront

Start at the Taksiyarhis church and wander downhill through the lanes of the old quarter, past old mansions and the former Saatli Church, to the market area and the waterfront. Follow the promenade along the harbor, then hop on a boat or bus to Cunda for an evening stroll around its harbor. The town part of the walk is about three kilometers.